As per the title. Business in alcoholic drinks is a breach of right livelihood, but what if someone asks me to fetch a beer from the fridge?

I am on the path, however not yet advanced. Any opinions or insights I share are meant entirely for discussion purposes and in cases where people might find them beneficial in whatever way. Since I am not advanced on the Path, I cannot guarantee that what I say will always necessarily be 100% true or in line with the Dhamma. However, having had an extremely interesting life with a wide variety of different (many of them deep) experiences, I hope that anything I share will be of use, provide food for thought, and inspire interesting and beneficial discussions.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

I am on the path, however not yet advanced. Any opinions or insights I share are meant entirely for discussion purposes and in cases where people might find them beneficial in whatever way. Since I am not advanced on the Path, I cannot guarantee that what I say will always necessarily be 100% true or in line with the Dhamma. However, having had an extremely interesting life with a wide variety of different (many of them deep) experiences, I hope that anything I share will be of use, provide food for thought, and inspire interesting and beneficial discussions.

In the time of the Buddha a woman was married to a hunter. She used to fetch his weapons and traps every morning he went hunting. She prepared the meat he brought back for their meals. She was a Stream-winner. The Buddha said that she was blameless as she was simply obeying her husband.

So the question is are you under any social obligation to fetch the beer?

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:In the time of the Buddha a woman was married to a hunter. She used to fetch his weapons and traps every morning he went hunting. She prepared the meat he brought back for their meals. She was a Stream-winner. The Buddha said that she was blameless as she was simply obeying her husband.

So the question is are you under any social obligation to fetch the beer?

Hello Bhante.

Thanks for the story.

I don't fully understand your question though. What is meant by 'social obligation'? I can refuse to fetch the beer if I want to.

I am on the path, however not yet advanced. Any opinions or insights I share are meant entirely for discussion purposes and in cases where people might find them beneficial in whatever way. Since I am not advanced on the Path, I cannot guarantee that what I say will always necessarily be 100% true or in line with the Dhamma. However, having had an extremely interesting life with a wide variety of different (many of them deep) experiences, I hope that anything I share will be of use, provide food for thought, and inspire interesting and beneficial discussions.

I am on the path, however not yet advanced. Any opinions or insights I share are meant entirely for discussion purposes and in cases where people might find them beneficial in whatever way. Since I am not advanced on the Path, I cannot guarantee that what I say will always necessarily be 100% true or in line with the Dhamma. However, having had an extremely interesting life with a wide variety of different (many of them deep) experiences, I hope that anything I share will be of use, provide food for thought, and inspire interesting and beneficial discussions.

Thank you for your reply. I guess I don't understand how the differentiation is made. If your parents ask you to lie for them to the government and you refuse, is that akusala? If they ask you to steal? I just don't understand the difference and want to be clear about how to maintain pure sila especially since I'm going to be spending Thanksgiving in the company of my parents. Thank you.

Mike

To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.-Dhp. 183

Hi MikeI always err on the side of caution with regards to sila. Sila is the foundation of the path and without sila there can be no sammasamadhi and no panna. Don't break the sila yourself, don't encourage others to break their sila, and don't speak in praise of other people's sila-breaking behaviour.kind regards

Ben

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.” - Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Excellent reply! Yes, I definitely agree but Venerable's reply to Stefan got me worried that even in doing my best I may be unintentionally committing akusala kamma. This is especially relevant as all of my family are drinkers and there's sure to be all manner of unskillful conduct afoot when we get together for the holidays this week. I'll just work on guarding my own sila as best as I know how. Metta.

Mike

To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.-Dhp. 183

There are times when a choice must be made as to which action will be the least harmful.

Therein what are 'six (types of) disrespect'? One dwells without respect, without deference for the Teacher; one dwells without respect, without deference for the Teaching; one dwells without respect, without deference for the Order; one dwells without respect, without deference for the precepts; one dwells without respect, without deference for heedfulness; one dwells without respect, without deference for hospitality. These are six (types of) disrespect.:Vibh 945

I wonder if using the wrong word unintentionally is unwholesome kamma?

Presumably, Mike meant "unknowingly." In which case, one can easily commit unwholesome kamma — that is one may do something, believing it to be wholesome or at least blameless, while it is, in fact, unwholesome, e.g. mercy-killing, etc.

Some people are too scrupulous, and worry about nothing, but it is good to reflect on one's actions, before, during, and after doing them, to consider whether they were skilful or not.

Mahāsi Sayādaw wrote:We now come to the subject of vinaya kukkucca. Doubt may arise concerning certain matters relevant to the rules of discipline (vinaya). Sceptical doubt arises as to whether it is right or wrong, proper or improper, regarding one’s own actions, or the use of requisites. When such doubt occurs, it will not yet reach the stage of committing an offence. This kind of doubt is relevant to the rule of discipline. It is therefore regarded as an attribute that all monks should possess. Yet some monks pay no heed to any such doubt that might occur. In the absence of any such doubt or hesitation, they may give do a misdeed that amounts to contravening the rules of discipline. These monks will not have purity of mind or morality. Without reflecting on the propriety or impropriety of any such acts, they may do anything they like regardless of the rules of discipline laid down for monks.